172 
FOURTEENTH REPORT. 
when shot, and are then obtained with difficulty unless the water is 
quite shallow. The largest crocodilians must be shot with a rifle, but 
such specimens will not usually repay the trouble of collecting and 
preserving if young individuals are to be had. The dip net is to be used 
for small aquatic forms such as small turtles and aquatic amphibians. 
If it is desired to capture specimens of snakes and lizards alive those 
not easily caught in the hands may be noosed. Fine annealed iron wire 
is said to be excellent for this purpose. Stejneger* has the following to 
say on the subject: “Various sizes [of wire], from Nos. 22 to 34, may 
be found useful; the larger sizes might probably be quite as serviceable 
if of copper. For larger snakes a noose of waxed twine will be found to 
work well in many cases, and is to be recommended to persons who are 
too nervous to grab a live snake with an unprotected hand. 
“The noose should be fastened to the end of a long stick, or a light 
switch, as the case may require, and if a few leaves are left at the end 
so much the better, as they will attract the reptile's attention from the 
noose. Slip the noose gently over its head and a sharp jerk towards the 
tail will usually put the prize in your possession.” 
Whether the specimens are obtained alive or dead they should be at 
once slipped into cloth bags, and if a considerable collection is made 
on one trip a note giving the place of capture should be inserted or tied 
to each bag. If the specimen is an amphibian the bag should be wet in 
water. When in the field write a description, and if convenient make 
photographs of the habitats and record any observations on habits. 
CARE OF SPECIMENS. 
Preservation of Ike Entire Animal. 
By far the best method of preserving reptiles and amphibians is in 
formalin. All of the amphibians and all but the very large reptiles 
should be put up in his way, and in the case of the latter it is quite 
permissible to preserve the young ones in formalin and ignore the large 
individuals. 
Adult Stages: Upon returning to camp the live specimens should be 
drowned by immersing the bags in water. The dead specimens should be 
removed from the bags, the blood washed off and the limbs straightened 
out if they have been twisted into unsightly positions. They should 
then be thoroughly injected with a 4% solution of formalin (consider- 
ing the stock as 100%). By thorough injection is meant that the pre- 
serving fluid should be injected into the body cavity until the body is 
plump, but not until the skin is abnormally distended as this is unneces- 
sary and produces an unsightly specimen. One injection, on the ventral 
surface, is sufficient for all but the very large amphibians, turtles, large 
lizards and crocodilians, and snakes. Very large amphibians should 
have the thighs injected; large lizards and crocodilians of the same size 
should also have the base of the tail and fleshy parts of the limbs in- 
jected; and in the case of snakes it will be necessary to inject the 
preservative in several places along the ventral surface and in large 
specimens into the base of the tail. Care should be taken to inject the 
fluid slowly and uniformly so as not to cause distortions. Turtles are 
♦Bull. 39, U. S. National Museum, Pt. E, p. 9. 
